Lakeville United Church of Christ5687 Big Tree Road Lakeville, New York 14480 February 24, 2008 10:30 a.m.Third Sunday in Lent God is Still Speaking, |
No matter who, no matter what,
no matter where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.
A Time for Gathering
* Opening Hymn #135 (Black) O Come, All Ye Faithful
* Call to Worship
One: Come, let us sing a new song to our God.
Make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Many: Let us enter God's presence with thanksgiving.
Make a joyful noise with songs of praise!
One: God is a great ruler, above all other gods.
The depths of the earth are in God's hands.
Many: The highest mountains belong to God.
The farthest reaches of the universe are God's own.
One: O Come, let us worship and bow down.
Let us kneel before God our Maker.
Many: We are the people of God's pasture.
Today we will listen to God with open hearts.
* Prayer: We come to you, God, because we are thirsty. Our spirits need the refreshing water of your word. Open our ears to your truth and prepare us to follow Jesus in accepting the unacceptable, challenging the conventional, and joining together in a harvest for your realm. Amen.
*Call to Confession: Just as our ancestors in the faith quarreled and complained and tested God, we are tempted to do the same. Can we turn to God in confessing our shortcomings?
*Prayer of Confession: Gracious One, we rebel and complain when things don't go our way. We spend little time in communion with you and then begin to doubt your presence. We create barriers among ourselves that separate us from one another and from you. Send your living water to cleanse us, O God. Empower us to worship in spirit and in truth. Amen.
* Assurance of Forgiveness: Christ died for us. In his death he demonstrated the vastness of God's love for us, bringing reconciliation and the assurance of salvation.
* Gloria Patri (Brown hymnal: back page)
A Time for Stewardship
Offertory Invitation: When we stop to consider the amazing riches God has provided on this planet, how thankful we ought to be. Good soil and water give us food in abundance. Gifts of the Spirit grant life with eternity in it. Let us express our wonder and gratitude through our offering of our tithes and our lives.
Offering of Music: Voices Raised in Song
Scripture Readings:
Hebrew Scriptures: Exodus 17:1-7
Gospel: Romans 5:1-11
Sermon: A redeeming conversation
Hymn #370 (Brown) Be Still, My Soul
(Children dismissed to sing with Steve)
Presentation of our Treasure: The offering is collected at this time.
* Doxology
* Prayer of Dedication: Thank you, God, for all the ways we have benefited from the labor of others. Keep us from being ungrateful as we continue to receive so much more than we stop to realize. When life is difficult, help us to endure and to hope because your love is sure and certain, ours to receive and to give, in Christ's name. Amen.
Mission Moment: Fran Fleming - One Great Hour of Sharing
A Time for Prayer
Sharing Our Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer – followed by the Lord’s Prayer (sins)
Commission and Blessing
*Hymn # 198 (Black) Lift High the Cross (vs.1 and 5)
One: We scatter, singing songs of thanksgiving.
We will make a joyful noise, in praise to God.
Many: We will also listen for messages God sends.
God is among us and goes with us every day.
Amen. Amen
A Time to Depart
* Fellowship Circle Awesome God
* Benediction
*Please stand in body or in spirit.
Bold print indicates unison.